Letters in the editor’s mailbag

Monday

Sep 19, 2011 at 12:01 AM

UO raise defender is not realistic

In the Sept. 15 Register-Guard Priscilla Southwell, a professor at the University of Oregon, tells us that raising UO faculty and administrator salaries was necessary as we are losing teachers and administrators to competitors. She said she has been recruited to take a better job in Ohio. I urge her to take the job and move to Ohio — it will help Oregon as there are teachers out of work who would love to have her job.

I understand what she says about losing people to competitors but she doesn’t seem to realize, being shielded by the UO, the reality of the work place. Oregon is broke, money is very tight, public schools are closing, teachers are being laid off, classrooms are overcrowded, unpaid furlough days are being required, the school year has been shortened, employee benefits have been reduced and students have to pay to participate in any kind of activity.

At the UO, students face increased costs to attend classes. Meanwhile, Oregonians are losing their homes and many people can no longer even hope to be able to pay for college — that dream is gone.

Southwell should look around and see the heartbreak that is happening, then tell us that her salary is just not enough and she may move to Ohio. So I say, go — we need Oregonians who will help solve the problem, not add to it.

Dick Walker

Eugene

Eugene experience was a joy

I traveled from Reno to attend the Nevada-Oregon football game. Having recently graduated from the University of Nevada, I am a huge Nevada fan.

I wanted to let everyone in Eugene know that I had a wonderful experience there. I have nothing but nice things to say about the Duck fans — they were all welcoming and extremely nice. It was great not to feel antagonized, even if our team struggled quite a bit.

I also wanted to mention how beautiful your football stadium is, and how great it is to see a stadium fill up like that. Overall, it was an amazing experience — with the exception, of course, that we lost.

Amber Best

Sparks, Nev.

State Republicans keep core values

As a member of the recent Republican Party Platform Committee and current vice chair of the Lane County Republican Party, I am confused by recent comments by The Register-Guard and The Oregonian on the so-called move to the center by our state party.

Last year’s platform had major changes (reduced from 44 pages down to seven) and that was largely ignored by the media. This year’s platform removed a poorly worded sentence and made a few other changes, none of which I would call major, and all of a sudden we’re said to have moved to the center.

Believe me, the Republican Party has not changed its core principles and has no intention of doing so in the near future. Is there disagreement within the party on the gay rights issue? Certainly, as well as on many other issues. We can disagree on many things yet still be united in our efforts to “advocate personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, fiscal accountability and a strong national defense” (taken from the 2011 Republican Party Platform Preamble).

Paul Barnett

Eugene

Israel has targeted Americans, too

Craig Weinerman (letters, Sept. 12) is correct, support for Israel is bipartisan. On May 24, 2011, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, responsible for Operation Cast Lead that killed 1,400 Palestinians and for the Mavi Marmara high-seas massacre that killed, abducted, robbed and imprisoned American citizens, received 29 standing ovations before a joint session of Congress, four more than our own president.

In August, the American Israel Education Foundation, a nonprofit arm of the Israel lobby organization American Israel Public Affairs Committee, provided an all-expense-paid propaganda junket to Israel for 81 congressional representatives.

On June 8, 1967, America’s “most reliable Middle East ally” attacked the USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy intelligence vessel, killing 34 and wounding 172 crew members. The attack was whitewashed and the truth concealed by the U.S. government.

On March 6, 2003, American human rights activist Rachel Corrie was deliberately crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer. Since then, American human rights activists Tristan Anderson, Brian Avery, Emily Henochowicz and Emily Schick have been injured — three gravely so — by Israeli forces while non-violently resisting the Israeli occupation alongside Palestinians, other internationals and principled Israelis.

When will the 63 percent of Americans Weinerman claims “view Israel favorably” have had enough? Isn’t it time to end the Israeli occupation of Washington, D.C.?

Mariah Leung

Co-director, Al-Nakba Awareness Project

Eugene

Protect your dog from tetanus

Though rare, dogs can encounter tetanus in some of our most beautiful dog-friendly parks. Hiking the east side of Mount Pisgah was a favorite outing for my black lab, Jed. On leash he greeted everyone with a full-body tail wag. But he was clearly happiest when he was off leash to run through the fields.

On a routine hike, Jed chose to follow a deer path. He returned limping. Checking his paw I found nothing and he seemed to recover fine. A week later the foot swelled. I told the veterinarian he stepped on something during our hike. His foot was examined and X-rayed and nothing unusual was found, so he was given antibiotics.

Later that week his ears pulled up on his head and eating become difficult. The vet thought it was unrelated and Jed was given another diagnosis and more medication. Days later he had difficulty walking. It was not until then that tetanus was diagnosed.

I was advised to immediately take Jed to the Oregon State University veterinary hospital, where they have the best treatment, but they couldn’t save him.

I share my story to ask dog owners to become familiar with the symptoms of tetanus. Ask your vet if he or she has ever treated tetanus. Caught early, your pet will have a much better chance for survival.

Jane Holloway

Pleasant Hill

Obama is still the one

Some pundits, including our congressman, Peter DeFazio, are wrong in assessing the mood among 2008 Obama supporters. They claim some of those previous supporters of the president will not vote for him in 2012. Do you think they will vote for Rick Perry or Mitt Romney?

I think many are unhappy with the economy and blame it on President Obama, which is an unfair accusation. Some claim Obama is a good manager but a poor “leader.” I think he is an inspiring leader and a good manager.

Leadership is a subjective assessment made by individuals. Good management can be measured and quantified by outcomes.

Was George W. Bush a good leader? He took us to war in Iraq and bankrupted the country. How about the current crop of Republican contenders? Should we elect one of them president because of his good looks and impressive TV personality?

Democrats I speak with strongly support Obama. For those who disagree with some of his positions, I would hope they would express their support for him while expressing their disagreements on specific issues. What useful purpose does general criticism serve except to encourage Republicans?

To Democrats and independent Obama supporters, I suggest we stick together and save our country from these extremist reactionary tea party Republicans. We are in crisis and the stakes are very high. Obama is the man for the job.

Munir Katul

Eugene

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